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Kobe never put the team before himself and played for less EVER he was always a little money grubber.

Yes because all players would turn down a max contract/extension if they could. Most if not all players want to get paid anyone who says they wouldn't take that $$$ that was offered to them isn't being entirely honest with themselves.

Yes because all players would turn down a max contract/extension if they could. Most if not all players want to get paid anyone who says they wouldn't take that $$$ that was offered to them isn't being entirely honest with themselves.

Players take discounts all of the time. Kobe just wants to have his cake and eat it too. Sure, he's worth it from a financial standpoint for LA, but that's only one aspect of this signing. The fact that a 37-year-old is going to be making upwards of $25M two years from now is ridiculous. Not only that, but that will be close to half of the salary cap each of the next two years. Next year will probably be around $60M and the year after will likely be similar... The Lakers are going to have about $25M to fill 9 roster spots this summer. They're going to be in trouble unless they can sign-and-trade Gasol for multiple good players next summer.

Players take discounts all of the time. Kobe just wants to have his cake and eat it too. Sure, he's worth it from a financial standpoint for LA, but that's only one aspect of this signing. The fact that a 37-year-old is going to be making upwards of $25M two years from now is ridiculous. Not only that, but that will be close to half of the salary cap each of the next two years. Next year will probably be around $60M and the year after will likely be similar... The Lakers are going to have about $25M to fill 9 roster spots this summer. They're going to be in trouble unless they can sign-and-trade Gasol for multiple good players next summer.

They can only actually approach the tax through sign-and-trades, is my point. And the only guy that's going to give them much of a return in that regard is Gasol. So they're painting themselves into a corner.

At least Marvin defends and tries at times he just isnt very skilled. Derrick is just not a smart player at all and add in his poor lateral movements he just cant play very good basketball. He had to be one of the laziest guy I have ever watched in college. He literally wouldn't get back on defense half of the game. I just don't understand how someone can be so lazy.

By my count there's been at least seven outright busts (Swift, Williams (all three[!!!] of them), Milicic, Beasley, and Thabeet), one player who's giving off potential bust vibes, but it's too early to say for certain (Kidd-Gilchrist), a couple of solid-but-unspectacular picks (Chandler and Okafor), one very good pick (Aldridge), and one grand slam (Durant).

Edit: I forgot Evan Turner, who was speeding down the bust highway until this season. We'll see if he continues playing like a stud in Philly...

By my count there's been at least seven outright busts (Swift, Williams (all three[!!!] of them), Milicic, Beasley, and Thabeet), one player who's giving off potential bust vibes, but it's too early to say for certain (Kidd-Gilchrist), a couple of solid-but-unspectacular picks (Chandler and Okafor), one very good pick (Aldridge), and one grand slam (Durant).

Edit: I forgot Evan Turner, who was speeding down the bust highway until this season. We'll see if he continues playing like a stud in Philly...

That's not a good track record.

By the way, I fully expect people to shed tears over my labeling of Kidd-Gilchrist as a potential bust. Flame away, children.

I just threw Oladipo in there to complete the set. He's actually looking pretty good early on. I doubt he ends up in the home run category with Durant, but he looks skilled enough to be in the Aldridge tier in due time.

Of the 19 players selected by the Charlotte Bobcats in their 2004 expansion draft, only two remain in the NBA - Gerald Wallace and Zaza Pachulia (who never actually played for the team). The franchise needs to make a good selection this upcoming June so they don't tarnish the Hornets name.

I've felt that the Wolves' current roster is short on versatile defenders, so Mbah a Moute fills that need for sure. He isn't a lockdown defensive specialist but he makes guys work hard for their points and is a smart team defender.

Williams just can't play the three at all... kind of a problem when you're on a roster with Kevin Love, who can play 40MPG without much difficulty. I like the move for both teams.

I also think Minnesota is in need of another wing defender... a trade along the lines of Alexey Shved for Courtney Lee might make sense for both them and Boston.

Of the 19 players selected by the Charlotte Bobcats in their 2004 expansion draft, only two remain in the NBA - Gerald Wallace and Zaza Pachulia (who never actually played for the team). The franchise needs to make a good selection this upcoming June so they don't tarnish the Hornets name.

I mean thats not so absurd teams were allowed to protect their what best 11 players? So literally the Bobcats were taking teams victory cigars for the most part.

I mean thats not so absurd teams were allowed to protect their what best 11 players? So literally the Bobcats were taking teams victory cigars for the most part.

Teams could only protect eight, but your point is valid. In fact, after taking a look at the pool of players to choose from, building even a moderately successful team would have been near impossible. The Bobcats tried to find diamonds in the rough (by taking younger players) but there wasn't even cubic zirconia to be had.

Thibs may not say it, but his team is tanking. I mean, losing to UTAH?

"Nobody wants to play against Tyler Hansbrough NO BODY!" ~ Frank Vogel

"And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen. "
Want your own "Just Say No to Kamen" from @mkroeger pic? http://twitpic.com/a3hmca

The Bulls are obviously tanking. There is no other explanation for that.

Are they taking my advice too seriously? LOL

The Bulls just has nowhere to go at this point than to blow up their roster. An OT game managing only 84 points and losing against Utah is just inexcusable for a team that's supposed to be the Heat's "rival." Not that I'm complaining since 1 less obstacle for the Pacers is always good.